Tragedy averted after teen girls rescued from river in Ballincollig

CORK City Council has warned bathers not to swim in the river at Ballincollig Regional Park after two girls got into difficulty and had a lucky escape. 

With people flocking to lakes, rivers and beaches to cool down from the soaring temperatures, Irish Water Safety has also warned of the increased risks of drowning. 

The current 5km travel limit also means that people may be tempted to swim in places that are not normally popular bathing spots. 

On Saturday,  two teenage girls were among a large group of teenagers who had gathered a number of people swimming downstream of to the park’s damaged weir when they got into difficulty. 

The alarm was raised just before 4pm when one of the swimmers was spotted face down. 

A lifebuoy was thrown in by onlookers and a teenage boy, who had completed lifesaving training course, went into the water to pull the girl to safety. 

The area is known as Pebble Beach in Ballincollig's popular Regional Park.

Cork City Council's Parks and Recreation Department issued a warning on social media, saying: "The Pebble Beach at the Regional Park Ballincollig is a wonderful place. 

"However, it should never be used for swimming as there are dangerous currents."

Last Wednesday, four men were rescued at Inchydoney when they got into difficulty swimming.

Two of the men were taken to hospital for treatment. 

Around an hour after the incident in Inchydoney, emergency services were called to two missing swimmers in Glandore.

The two missing swimmers, believed to be teenage girls, were located on rocks about a kilometre from where they went missing at around 3.50pm.